JPH05248743A - Ice making device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable prediction of time up to completion of ice making to be made easily and quickly by alternately displaying the required ice making hours calculated by counting time until a temperature of a refrigerant reaches a specified level and the ice making hours which have already elapsed during the required ice making hours. CONSTITUTION:Basic data are prepared on the basis of an ambient temperature around the subject device, which is detected by a temperature sensor 5A, a temperature of water for ice making in a water storage tank 9, which is detected by a temperature sensor 5B, a temperature of a refrigerant at the outlet portion of an evaporator 4, which is detected by a temperature sensor 5C and the like. A controlling unit calculates the basic data according to a specified operation expression to decide hours required for ice making. Then a snap switch is turned ON, a temperature of, for example, a refrigerant is first displayed and, then, at every manipulation of a shift switch, for example, the preceding ice making hours, the preceding ice cube take-out completion detection temperature, the present ice making hours, the present ice cube take-out completion detection temperature and the like are successively displayed in terms of preset marks, numerical values or the like. By this method, prediction up to completion of ice making can be easily and quickly made.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ice making device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art It is known that the time required for ice making is greatly affected not only by the capacity of a compressor, which is an ice making means, but also by the ambient temperature around which the device is installed and the temperature of ice making water taken from tap water or the like. ing.

Therefore, the ambient temperature, the temperature of ice-making water, the ice-making time until the refrigerant drops to a predetermined temperature (for example, 0 ° C.), etc. are detected, and the time required to complete the predetermined ice-making is estimated, An ice making device having a mechanism for controlling the ice making cycle based on the ice making time has already been proposed and put into practical use.

[0004]

However, since most of the above-mentioned conventional ice making devices do not have means for displaying the ice making time, it is unclear how long after that the ice making is completed and the ice can be used. .. In addition, there is also an ice making device partially equipped with a means for displaying the ice making time, but in this case, the refrigerant temperature, the last ice making time, the last ice release completion detection temperature, the present ice making time,
Since it is a mechanism that feeds the elapsed time of ice making that has already passed, the temperature of this water removal completion detection, etc. by the feed switch,
There is a drawback that necessary data cannot be easily compared, and it has been a problem to solve this point.

[0005]

As a concrete means for solving the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, the present invention comprises an ice making means,
Control for alternately and repeatedly executing an ice removing means for removing an ice block that has grown in the ice making means, an ice making step for forming an ice block by the ice making means, and an ice removing step for removing the ice block from the ice making means by the ice removing means In the ice making device including means, a required ice making time calculated by measuring the time until the refrigerant reaches a predetermined temperature, and a display means for alternately displaying the ice making time that has already elapsed during the required ice making time. An ice making device characterized in that

[0006] an ice making means, an ice removing means for separating the ice lumps grown in the ice making means, an ice making step for forming an ice lump by the ice making means, and an ice removing step for making the ice lumps separate from the ice making means by the ice removing means In an ice making device equipped with a control means for alternately and repeatedly executing, a display for displaying the remaining ice making time obtained by subtracting the already made ice making time from the required ice making time calculated by measuring the time until the refrigerant reaches a predetermined temperature. The above-mentioned problems of the prior art are solved by providing an ice making device characterized by including means.

[0007]

The time required for cooling the refrigerant to a predetermined temperature (for example, 0 ° C.) is detected, and the required ice making time calculated based on this cooling time and the already made ice making time are alternately displayed on the display means. Alternatively, the remaining ice-making time obtained by subtracting the ice-making time that has already passed from the calculated required ice-making time is displayed, so that prediction until the completion of ice-making can be performed easily and quickly.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows an example of the structure of an ice making section of an ice making apparatus. In the figure, 1 is a compressor, 2 is a condenser, 3 is a capillary tube, 4 is an evaporator, 5A, 5B and 5C are temperature sensors, and 6 is a temperature sensor. Is a hot gas valve, 7 is a fan motor, 8 is a water supply valve, 9 is a water storage tank, 10 is a pump motor, 11 is a sprinkler, and 12 is ice.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a control mechanism used in the control section of the ice making device. The temperature around the device detected by the temperature sensor 5A, the temperature of ice making water detected by the temperature sensor 5B, and the refrigerant detected by the temperature sensor 5C. The control unit (for example, a fuzzy inference unit) 13 makes a judgment based on the temperature of the above, and determines the output to control the compressor 1, the hot gas valve 6, the fan motor 7, the water supply valve 8 and the pump motor 10.

In the ice making device having the above control mechanism, the compressor 1, the fan motor 7 and the pump motor 10 operate in the ice making process,

The refrigerant compressed by the compressor 1 is liquefied by the condenser 2 cooled by the fan motor 7,
It flows into the evaporator 4 via the capillary tube 3, where it undergoes a rapid volume expansion, the temperature drops, and heat is taken from the surroundings.

On the other hand, the water stored in the water storage tank 9 is supplied to the sprinkler 11 by the pump motor 10, and from there, it cools and flows into ice while flowing on the surface of the evaporator 4 which is being cooled, thereby making ice. Be seen.

During this period, the temperature around the apparatus detected by the temperature sensor 5A, the ice making water temperature of the water storage tank 9 detected by the temperature sensor 5B, the refrigerant temperature at the outlet of the evaporator 4 detected by the temperature sensor 5C, etc. are used as basic data. The control unit 13 calculates based on a predetermined calculation formula (for example, a fuzzy inference formula), and determines the required ice making time, water supply time, ice release completion detection temperature, and the like.

In the ice separation process following the ice making process, the compressor 1 is operating, but the fan motor 7 and the pump motor 10 are stopped, the hot gas valve 6 is opened, and the evaporator 4 is heated to a high temperature refrigerant gas, so-called hot. A gas is caused to flow to raise the temperature of the evaporator 4, and the ice 12 frozen on this surface is released.

At this time, the water supply valve 8 is opened for a certain period of time to supply the next ice making water from the water supply to the water storage tank 9, and the relatively high temperature ice making water is sprinkled inside the evaporator 4. Since it is supplied, the temperature of the evaporator 4 rises and the detachment of the ice 12 frozen on this surface is promoted.

Next, an example of the ice making cycle will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When the power is turned on, in step S1, the compressor 1, the water supply valve 8 and the pump motor 10 are turned on to start the cleaning process.

In step S2, it is repeatedly determined whether or not a predetermined time, for example, 1 minute has elapsed (for example, every 0.1 seconds, and so on), and the predetermined time of 1 minute has elapsed. Then, the process proceeds to step S3.

In step S3, the compressor 1, the fan motor 7, and the pump motor 10 are turned on, while the hot gas valve 6 and the water supply valve 8 are turned off to start the ice making process.

In step S4, the temperature sensor 5C
It is repeatedly determined whether or not the refrigerant temperature detected by is higher than a first predetermined temperature, for example, 0 ° C., every predetermined time.

The ice-making time from the start of step S3 to the end of step S4, which is judged as NO, is measured and designated as T _n 1.

Also in the following step S5, step S
Similar to 4, it is repeatedly determined whether or not the refrigerant temperature detected by the temperature sensor 5C is higher than a second predetermined temperature, for example, −10 ° C., every predetermined time, and when it is determined that the temperature is not higher than the predetermined temperature, the process proceeds to step S6. move on.

The ice-making time from the end of step S4 to the end of step S5 when NO is determined is measured and designated as T _n 2.

At step S6, the controller 13 causes the ambient temperature detected by the temperature sensor 5A during the ice making times T _n 1 and T _n 2,
The ice making time T _n R from the end of step S5 to the completion of ice making and the detection of the completion of ice removal based on a predetermined calculation formula (for example, a fuzzy inference formula) in consideration of the ice making water temperature detected by the temperature sensor 5B. Calculate the temperature and water supply time.

In step S7, whether or not the ice making time T _n R has elapsed is repeatedly determined at predetermined time intervals. When this ice making time T _n R has elapsed, the process proceeds to step S8, where the ice making process is terminated and the ice is removed. Enter the process.

The elapsed time after the end of step S5 is measured and designated as T _n 3.

In step S8, the compressor 1, the hot gas valve 6, and the water supply valve 8 are turned on, and the fan motor 7 and the pump motor 10 are turned off.

In step S9, it is repeatedly determined whether or not the water supply time calculated in step S6 has elapsed, every predetermined time, and when the predetermined water supply time has elapsed, step S1
Proceeding to 0, the water supply valve 8 is turned off.

Then, in step S12, it is repeatedly determined whether or not the ice-freezing completion detection temperature obtained in step S6 has been reached, every predetermined time, and when the ice-freezing completion detection temperature is reached, the process proceeds to step S13.

If the predetermined water supply time has not elapsed in the determination in step S9, step S11
The process proceeds to step S6 to repeatedly determine whether or not the ice removal completion detection temperature obtained in step S6 has been reached, and when the ice removal completion detection temperature has not been reached, the process returns to step S9 and the ice removal is performed. When the completion detection temperature is reached, the process proceeds to step S13 while the water supply valve 8 remains on.

In step S13, it is determined whether or not the ice storage is full of ice. If it is full ice, the process proceeds to step S14, and if it is not full, the process returns to step S3.

In step S14, the compressor 1, the hot gas valve 6, the water supply valve 8, the fan motor 7, and the pump motor 10 are turned off, and the ice storage process starts.

In the following step S15, it is repeatedly determined whether or not the ice storage is full of ice at predetermined time intervals. When the ice storage is not full, the process returns to the step before step S3 and the ice making process is repeatedly executed.

As shown in FIG. 4, the ice making device of the present invention in which the ice making cycle is controlled as described above can display, for example, alphanumeric characters on the operation panel P provided on the front surface of the device, for example, a 7 segment system. Display means P1 and a snap switch P2 for turning on / off this display means P1
And a push button type feed switch P3,

When the snap switch P2 is turned on, the coolant temperature detected by the temperature sensor 5C, for example, is displayed on the display means P1, and every time the feed switch P3 is pressed, for example, the previous ice making time T _n-1 1, T _{n -1 2, T n-1 R} , the previous ice removal completion detection temperature T _n 1 time of the ice making _{time, T n 2, T n R} , this ice removal completion detection temperature, power supply frequency, etc. ice state in advance It will be displayed sequentially according to the set symbols and numerical values,

Particularly, when the ice making time T _n R of this time is selected, the required ice making time T _n R and the ice making elapsed time T _n 3 up to the present are alternately displayed or the ice making time T _n R and the remaining ice making time T _n R are displayed. and it is capable of displaying only the ice making time _{(T n R-T n 3} ) and the display alternately or, or residual ice making time _{(T n R-T n 3} ).

By the way, the temperature of the refrigerant on the outlet side of the evaporator 4 detected by the temperature sensor 5C is significantly affected by the ambient temperature as illustrated in FIG. 6, so that it often falls into a supercooled state when the ambient temperature is low. So as not to
In order that the evaporation temperature of the refrigerant can detect this supercooling detection temperature even when the ambient temperature is high, the subcooling detection temperature is set to gradually increase with the increase of the ambient temperature in parallel with the refrigerant temperature curve. However, it is also possible to set in a stepwise manner), and when the temperature sensor 5C detects this supercooling detection temperature, it is preferable to stop the ice making operation to protect the device.

The ice making time T _n 2 and the ice making elapsed time T _n 3
May be measured starting from the start of step S3 as in the case of the ice making time T _n 1, or the total ice making time may be calculated instead of the ice making time T _n R and controlled by this ice making time. ..

Further, the structure of the ice making means, the water supply means, the ice removing means, the control means and the like can be changed as appropriate, and the control mechanism of the ice making cycle can also be appropriately changed.

[0040]

As described above, according to the present invention, the ice making means, the ice removing means for separating the ice lumps grown in the ice making means, the ice making step for forming the ice lumps by the ice making means, and the ice removing means In an ice making device provided with a control means for alternately repeating an ice removing step of separating ice blocks from the ice making means, a required ice making time calculated by measuring a time until the refrigerant reaches a predetermined temperature, and the required ice making. An ice making device having display means for alternately displaying the ice making time that has already elapsed during time,

An ice making means, an ice removing means for separating an ice block that has grown on the ice making means, an ice making step for forming an ice block by the ice making means, and an ice removing step for separating an ice block from the ice making means by the ice removing means In an ice making device equipped with a control means for alternately repeating the above, a display for displaying the remaining ice making time obtained by subtracting the already made ice making time from the required ice making time calculated by measuring the time until the refrigerant reaches a predetermined temperature. Since it is an ice making device equipped with means,

Since the elapsed time of ice-making operation and the remaining operation time can be checked at a glance, and the prediction until the completion of ice-making can be performed easily and quickly, it is not only very useful for maintenance, but also for experiments and the like. The operability when used for was also remarkably improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of an ice making device.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a main part of an ice making device.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a control unit.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of display means.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of control.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a procedure for setting a supercooling detection temperature.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Compressor 2 Condenser 3 Capillary tube 4 Evaporator 5A, 5B, 5C Temperature sensor 6 Hot gas valve 7 Fan motor 8 Water supply valve 9 Water tank 10 Pump motor 11 Sprinkler 12 Ice 13 Control part P Operation panel P1 Display means P2 Snap switch P3 Feed switch

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An ice making means, an ice removing means for separating an ice block that has grown on the ice making means, an ice making step for forming an ice block by the ice making means, and an ice removing means for separating an ice block from the ice making means by the ice removing means. In an ice making device provided with a control means for alternately repeating steps and steps, the required ice making time calculated by measuring the time until the refrigerant reaches a predetermined temperature, and the ice making time that has already elapsed during the required ice making time. An ice making device comprising display means for displaying alternately. 2. An ice making means, an ice removing means for separating an ice mass that has grown on the ice making means, an ice making step for forming an ice mass by the ice making means, and an ice removing means for making an ice mass separate from the ice making means by the ice removing means. In an ice making device provided with a control means for alternately repeating steps and steps, the remaining ice making time obtained by subtracting the already made ice making time from the required ice making time calculated by measuring the time until the refrigerant reaches a predetermined temperature is displayed. An ice-making device, comprising: